Mirrorscope



April 3, 1956 G. F. SOUCY MIRRORSCOPE Filed Sept. vl2, 1952 [r2 Ver? tor': z//Zber'zr FT SOL/C y by @Mrs m4 Sf/f's Worrze'gs.

.MIRRORSCOPE Guilbert F. Soucy, Cohoes, N. Y.

' Application September 12,1952, Serial No. 309,209

Y. This .inventiontrelates to.. an: improved illuminating and reflecting devicewhich I call amirrorscope. More particularly, it pertains totsuch .a Ydevice for. inspecting an object from amelatively remote point, vwhich object would `otherwise be` hidden or Yconcealed from direct view, bymeans of Va mirror and a pivotally controllable 1ight-.source,fand. the provision of such a device is a principal object of the invention.

`Iam-well aware ofthe fact Vthat devices of vthis general character have heretoforebeen suggested, but-Iam Y only concerned with structures embodying theinvention as `herein disclosed and, in particular, the novel character of the illuminating means and manner of manipulating the same which. .overcomesfthedisadvantages of prior devices, andthis is, in zgeneral, another-object ofthe Vinvention.

Generally, it isA also-an;l object ofthe.:invention to provide such a device which is simple,-gyet sturdy and durable in construction,economic in manufacture, that t will.` operate-with ,ease and: facility, and 'with relative fixed; selected-v extendingA position, amirrorgangularly disposed at "theendA of the-extension member ,for reflecting an image thereinofthe-'object to begviewed, aglightsourcepivotallyconnected to thejmirrorl and connected in ycircuitwith--thebatteryaand flexible means directly-connected to -the-lightsource and adapted manually to be manipulated to focus light at different angles to illuminate the object to -be,reected in they mirror.

, Otherobjects o'f the inventionwill yin partbe obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of device embodied by the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary portion of the reflecting device and pivotally mounted light source, shown in Fig. l, somewhat enlarged, partly in section and illustrating in dotted line position the maneuverability of the light source;

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in section, and with parts broken away of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 2 but on a smaller scale, diagrammatically illustrating the circuit or the light source; and

United States PatentOF 2,740,882 Ratented Apr..V 3,.A 1956 ICC Fig. 5 is a fragmentary portion insection `through ...-the handle .and..extension\.member illustrating a suitable AV@means for kholding theextensionV member in fixed selected Aposition.

Referringnow more. particularly to the drawing'lthere is .illustrated .generally at a so-called mirrorscope batterycasing. 12,- connected tol said handle by means ofsuitable .brackets 13 .and 14, which .brackets Aconstitutefclamps adjustably.securedgtogether by.V means of screws' 15 and 16. Withinthe casing-12 is .a suitable electric batterywhich `preferably is Voperated by .la roramble knurledring switch 17.

. An elongated extensionmember 18 is .slidably mounted .t in .the elongatedI handle 11 and the same can. be. selectively positioned at.any desired length and to-rernain xed in such position by means, for example, of a plu- .,rality ofalgnedv .openings 19 ,thereinvwhich cooperate with aplurality of aligned detents-20. In..the.handle llobviously, asingle .detent'can beused with a plurality of openings, or .a. single .opening can be used with a y.plurality of Ydetents in..eitherlthe.extensor handle or the extension: member Y18.

,. A..metal=frame or. casing 21 is vsecured to the .end

, of the extension: member. 18 by` means of a .nut-and bolt arrangement 22.A .Mounted within the casing or frame .r 21 isa mirror 23.although it will beunderstoodthat `Preferably at oneaend of the mirror ssecured an arm. 24.upon Awhich is .mounted a light socket 25that sadapted topivot laround .the-pivot pin 26. Rear- .,wardlyextending from thesocket 25 is anarm 27 .and

Vv...connected to -this,arm at .one end is a coil or expansion .spring 28,..the-,othert-end` of which is connected to a I n Astruckout;por.tion or hook 29.V on the frame. 21` `that .holds ;the..mirr0r 23. .fScrewedinto `the casing 25 is a 40.*

spotlight which is .adapted toV cast a direct beam of light lightbulb 30. which isa pre-focused convex lens. type of uponan object tov beviewed. Preferably `I employ a ....shield. 31.around .this.,light for` protective `purposes as -..well as to aid inconcentrating the beam of' lightfrom -1 .the light source inthe desireddirection.

The..light.-.bulb. is, connected in. circuit .withthe 4batteryQwithinfthe casing 12 but having'one ,leg of the 1, lightLcircuit connecting the base of thesocket by means through'the base ofthe socket 25 which in turn makes contact with the light bulb base. The other end of this short flexible wire 32 is grounded, for example, to the base of the metallic frame 21 which in turn completes the circuit through the extension member 18, handle 11, bracket or clamps 13 and 14 and casing 12. When the type of light bulb employed is of very low voltage there is no appreciable interruption in the operation of the device.

The circuit is completed by means of a connection 34 in the casing 12 by means of a long flexible wire 35 which is secured to a post or extension 36 of the socket 25. This line of the circuit is also utilized to perform the function of manipulating the light source 30 against the action of the spring 28 as illustrated by the dotted line positions of the light source in Fig. 2. Line 35 should be insulated.

In connection with Fig. l, by way of illustration, the device is shown being manually operated, for example, by the left hand of an operator holding the device behind the casing of a radio or television set, the mirror image of the hidden or concealed objects being reflected in the mirror 23 and properly illuminated by the pivotally mounted pre-focused light bulb 30. It should be understood that the right hand of the operator is free for the use of tools such as Screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches or the like.

It will be understood that my mirrorscope has many advantages and can be used in many other fields by other workmen as well as in the household. It has utility for electrical contractors for locating wires, for example, in wall openings, for plumbers locating pipes, cables or the like, for locksmiths, machinists, garage men in examining cylinder walls and ignition devices, and by television and repair men working on such devices or placing tubes in sockets. It is applicable to use in any such eld and has come to be regarded as being as handy as a screwdriver.

lt will thus be seen that the objects hereinbefore set forth may readily and efciently be attained, and since certain changes may be made in the above article and dierent embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described for? inspecting an object at an angle from a relatively remote point, that is otherwise hidden or concealed from view, comprising an elongated handle; an electric battery connected to said handle; a casing for said battery; a ring switch on said casing; clamping means connecting said casing in parallel relation to said handle; an extension rod slidably mounted in said handle; means on said handle and rod adapted to maintain the latter in fixed, selected extended position; a mirror angularly disposed and in positively iixed position at the end of said extension rod for reflecting an image of said object to be viewed; a socket having a pre-focused light source pivotally connected to the end of said mirror and connected in circuit with said battery, said socket and light source being pivotally movable independently of said mirror; and a flexible wire directly connected to said socket and light source and adapted manually to be manipulated to project said light at different angles to illuminate said object to be reflected in said mirror.

2. In a device of the character described for inspecting an object at an angle from a relatively remote point, that is otherwise hidden or concealed from view, cornprising an elongated handle; an electric battery connected to said handle; a casing for said battery; a ring switch on said casing; clamping means connecting said casing in parallel relation to said handle; an extension rod slidably mounted in said handle; means on said handle and rod adapted to maintain the latter in fixed, selected extended position; a mirror angularly disposed and in positively xed position at the end of said extension rod for relecting an image of said object to be viewed; a socket having a pre-focused light source pivotally connected to the end of said mirror and in line circuit with said battery, said socket and light source being pivotally movable independently of said mirror; a coil spring connected at one end to said mirror and at its other end to said socket normally to bias said light source away from said mirror; and a flexible wire directly connected to said socket and light source and adapted manually to be manipulated to project said light at different angles to illuminate said object to be reflected in said mirror.

3. In a device of the character described for inspecting an object at an angle from a relatively remote point, that is otherwise hidden or concealed from view, comprising an elongated handle; an electric battery; a casing for said battery; a ring switch on said casing; clamping means connecting said casing in parallel relation to said handle; an extension rod slidably mounted in said handle; means on said handle and rod adapted to maintain the latter in a xed, selected extended position; a mirror angularly disposed and in positively fixed position at the end of said extension rod for rellecting an image of said object to be viewed; a fixed arm on said mirror; a light socket, having a pre-focused bulb therein, pivotally mounted on said arm; a spring connected to said socket and the mirror normally to urge the socket and bulb out of the direct path of the reflecting surface of the mirror, the socket and bulb being in line circuit with said battery; said circuit comprising a flexible Wire connected to the base of said socket and grounded through said extension rod and said handle to said battery; and a second flexible wire connecting the side Wall of said socket to said battery; said last named Wire constituting means adapted additionally to manually actuate said socket and bulb against the action of said spring to project light at dierent angles to illuminate said object to be reilected in said mirror.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,036,000 Pease Aug. 20, 1912 1,071,725 Franks Sept. 2, 1913 1,712,865 Allyn May 14, 1929 1,907,314 Baer May 2, 1933 2,222,879 Porter Nov. 26, 1940 2,280,402 Greppin Apr. 21, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 224,804 Great Britain Nov. 20, 1924 516,565 Germany Apr. 8, 1928 

